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v2 Sheets-Sheet 1. M. J. GRADY 8u R. MOMILLAN.

(No Model.)

GAR GOUPLING.

No. 537,527. Patented Apr. 16, 1895.

5N@ Mode1.)` 2 sheets-sheet 2.

M.'J. GRADY 8u R. MGMILLAN. GAR GOUPLING.

No. 537.527. Patented Apr. 15, 1895.

NITED STATES PATENT Ormea.

MICHAEL JOHN GRADY AND 'RICHARD MCMILLAN, OF KINGSTON, CANADA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATIN forming part of Letters Patent No. 537,527, dated April 16, l 895. i Application filed November 30, 1894;. Serial No. 530,319. (No model.)

To all` whom t may concern:

Beit known that we, MICHAEL JOHNGRADY and RICHARD MCMILLAN, of the city of Kingsj ton, in the Province of Ontario, in the Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplings; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which j Figure 1, is a horizontal section of a pair of drawheads coupled, embodying our invention. Fig. 2, is alike view of one of the drawheads uncoupled. Fig. 3, is a like view of the other drawhead, adjusted for coupling. Fig. 4, is a section on line X X Fig. 2. Fig'. 5, is a section on line Y Y, Fig. 3, and Fig. 6, is a perspective view of the locking block or keeper, detached. A

Our invention relates to that class of draw heads which have a knuckle hinged to the front to interlock with a like knuckle on the other drawhead, and our invention has for its object to effect self couplingof the knuckles by displacement of a keeper or locking block which drops from a recess in the cavity of the drawhead into engagement with one arm of the knuckle to couple, and uncoupling is effected by lifting the keeper by a lever to re` turn it into the recess.

Our invention consists in the construction,

arrangement and combination of parts of the drawhead, or coupling, as hereinafter described and claimed.

A, is the body of the drawhead having arms a, a', at the front which receive intermediately the opposite coupling.

B, is a V-shaped knuckle hinged to arm a, by a pintle b, passing through the elbow and through jaws on the arm, so that when the inner arm b2, of one knuckle is pushed by the outer arm of the opposite knuckle, both knuckles embrace one another as shown in Fig. l, to effect coupling. The lower end of the knuckle is provided with a projection 58,

shown in dotted lines, which enters a corresponding notch in its bearing, to temporarily hold the knuckle adjusted to couple when forced out by the opposite coupling or by a spring hereinafter referred to as shown in Fig. 3. The knuckles are kept embraced or coupled and uncoupling eected by the following described means which constitute our invention.

The drawhead has an internal cavity cl, in y front and the top of one side is extended horizontally to make ashelf or recess d', to lodge the locking block or keeper when uncoupled.

D, is a V-shaped keeper or locking block in the cavity d, and in thickness less than half the height of the cavity. Vhen coupling is effected-said keeper rests on the bottom of the cavity, and in the recess d', when uncoupled.

E, is a pin passing through the top and bottom of the cavity, and loosely through the elbow of the keeper, and said pin projects below the bottom of the drawhead to guide the rising and falling motion-s of the keeper in coupling and uncoupling.

F, is a sleeve or pipe inclosing a portion of the pin E, and the keeper D, bears on the top of said sleeve, and the lower end of the sleeve bears on one arm of an elbow lever G, which at the elbow is pintled to a lug a4, on the under side of the drawhead, and said arm is provided with a slot through which the pin passes to allow movement, and the pin is provided with a stop pin e, to limit the descent of the arm.

The lever is operated bya pull rod K, which extends to the side of the car, and is provided with a notch or stop L, to engage a fixed staple or guide M, to keep the lever at the position shown in Fig. 5, when coupling is not 'des sired. When rod K, is pulled, lever G, lifts sleeve F, and raises keeper D, level with the recess d. The pull on the knuckle of the opposite drawhead then rocks knuckle B, and causes its arm b2, to push one arm of the keeper D, so that it will lodge in the recess d', and thereby permit the embracing knuckles to separate to uncouple. The lodgment of the keeper in the recess prevents it from falling to the bottom of the cavity after the pull rod has been released, and in the raised position the keeper is ready for coupling. Coupling is eected by the locking arm b2, of the interlocking knuckle striking the curved arm of the keeper D, and swings the keeper so that the end or arm resting in the recess d, will be shifted out, and the keeper drop by gravitation when the meeting walls of sides of keeper and cavity are parallel, as shown TOO in Fig. 2, so that the keeper will engage the arm b2, of the knuckle and prevent it rocking, and thereby lock the knuckle of the opposite drawhead when both knuckles embrace.

If desired, the sleeve or pipe F, may be integral with the keeper D. v

N, is a notch in the outer arm of the knuckle B, to receive the link of another coupling, and O, is the pin-hole to hold the link in the notch.

C, is a spiral spring having one end fixed into the knuckle B, at the heel, and the other end frictionally engaging the wall of cavity d, of the drawhead, so that when the knuckle is released to uncouple, the spring will swing the knuckle outwardly to the position to couple automatically.

We claim as our inventionp l. The combination with the drawhead having arms a, a', cavity d, and recess d', of the V-shaped knuckle B, hinged to said arm a,

and having an arm b2, entering said cavity, the pin E, passing vertically through said cavity, the V-shaped locking block or keeper D, sleeved on said pin to gravitate and lock said arrn b2, to effect coupling, as set forth.

2. The combination with the drawhead A,

having arms a, a', cavity cl, and recess d', of the V-shaped knuckle B, hinged to said arm a, a spring C, swinging said knuckle outwardly when released, a pin E, passing vertically through said cavity, a V-shaped locking block D, sliding on said pin to gravitate and the keeper D, sleeved on said pin to gravitate, the lever G, lifting said keeper, and the pull rod K, extending below the drawhead and operatin g the lever, substantially as set forth.

MICHAEL JOHN GRADY. RICHARD MCMILLAN. Witnesses:

l. B. MoIvEs, J M. MACHAR. 

